THE exuberance of youth could work in Kidderminster Harriers’ favour next season, according to assistant manager Mark Creighton.

Following a troubled campaign, which has seen Harriers struggle to pay their players and upheaval in the boardroom, there are changes afoot at Aggborough.

Manager Gary Whild and Creighton expect to be working with a much-reduced budget as the Vanarama Conference club aim to live within their means.

That will see Harriers turn to younger, less experienced players alongside a few senior players, such as captain Jared Hodgkiss.

Defenders Jake Green and Jordan Tunnicliffe, midfielder Luke Maxwell, wingers Keyon Reffell and Ahmed Obeng and forward Akwasi Asante all featured in Tuesday’s Worcestershire FA Senior Cup final win over Worcester City and could be involved in 2015-16.

Creighton thinks their enthusiasm will work to their advantage.

He said: “We all know we’ve got our work cut out for next season and that work started a while back – we have had to be super-organised.

“We are using young kids that will make honest mistakes, there’s no two ways about it. If they didn’t make mistakes at this age, they wouldn’t be playing at this level.

“We’ve got to make sure they are well-drilled and know everything that is asked of them, and hope that they can do it for 90 minutes week in, week out.

“They are going to be young and inexperienced but what that gives you, on the flip-side, is bags of energy.

“They’ll also make mistakes but you will get flat-out effort and, in my time at this club, I know the punters appreciate that.

“If you can instil that into people and get that work ethic, work-rate and togetherness, you never know what can happen.

“If we can make the play-offs next year, I will be absolutely delighted.

“I’m quite a positive person and I don’t think we will be at the wrong end of the table – mid-table hopefully.”